Adjustable rail brace apparatus



Nov. 30, 1965 G. P. MAHOOD 3,220,651

ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRAGE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

George PMahood Nov. 30, 1965 G. P. MAHOOD ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRACE APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1963 Nov. 30, 1965 Filed Nov. 18, 1963 G. P. MAHOOD ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRACE APPARATUS Hi 3 I! U -L i 9 i lL.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

/5 19 f 23 I 20 T e i 27 1 W76 78 I4 George EMU/200d United States Patent (3 3,220,651 ADJUSTABLE RAIL BRACE APPARATUS George P. Mahood, Coopershurg, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bethlehem Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,515 9 Claims. (Cl. 238292) This invention relates generally to apparatus for bracing and securing railway rails, and specifically to an adjustable apparatus for bracing and securing to tie plates running or guard rails associated with railways.

In railway track construction, the rails must be readily attachable and detachable with respect to the tie plates while at the same time the rails must be firmly braced and secured to the tie plates at all times while they are in use. It is often required to brace and secure guard rails to the tie plates in such manner that the said guard rails can be placed between the rail brace and a chock, and can be removed from between the rail brace and the chock, all in a generally vertical direction without the necessity for twisting the rail to clear the chock and rail brace. At switches, the running rail must be braced and secured to the tie plate on that side of the running rail opposite the switch point. The present invention is directed to adjustable rail brace apparatus which meets all of the foregoing requirements.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide rail brace apparatus.

Another object of this invention to is provide adjustable rail brace apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide adjustable rail brace apparatus which firmly braces and secures to a tie plate a railway rail and which permits the rail to be placed into position between a chock and the rail brace, and to be removed from between the chock and the rail brace, all in a generally vertical direction without the necessity for twisting the rail to clear the chock and the rail brace.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide adjustable rail brace apparatus which is of simple, yet serviceable, construction.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 represents a view in plan of one embodiment of this invention, showing the adjustable rail brace applied to a guard rail.

FIGURE 2 represents a section in elevation taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 represents a view in elevation of the adjustable rail brace as seen from the right of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 represents a partial view in elevation of the adjustable rail brace, showing the striking face.

FIGURE 5 represents an enlarged partial section in elevation, taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 1, showing the manner of slidably mounting the combination rail brace and wedge to the holding member of the tie plate.

FIGURE 6 represents a view in plan of a modification of this invention, showing the adjustable rail brace applied to a guard rail.

FIGURE 7 represents a section in elevation taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 represents a view in plan of a further modification of this invention, showing the adjustable rail brace applied to a guard rail.

FIGURE 9 represents a section in elevation taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 represents a partial section in elevation taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 8, showing the serrations or sawteeth on the combination rail brace and' wedge and on the holding member.

Running rail 1 and guard rail 2 are mounted on metal tie plate 3, the latter being provided with spike holes 4 for use in the usual manner, and chock 5 being inserted between the said rails 1 and 2 to maintain the desired fiangeway therebetween as is known in the art.

The adjustable rail brace 6 is located on that side of guard rail 2 opposite chock 5, and is adapted to brace guard rail 2 against laterally directed forces proceeding from left to right of FIGURES 1 and 2, as well as to secure guard rail 2 to metal tie plate 3.

Adjustable rail brace 6 comprises combination rail brace and wedge 7, formed with side portions 8 and 9, rail engaging portion 10, and base portion 11. Holding member 12, provided with slotted recess 13, is secured to metal tie plate 3 as by welding, at an angle to guard rail 2, as clearily shown in FIGURE 1. It will be noted that base portion 11 is preferably provided with an upwardly directed indentation 14 adapted to receive the upper portion of holding member 12. Threaded bolt 15, head 16' adapted to bear against the underside 17 of slotted recess 13, extends through hole 18 in the base portion 11, and

nut 19 is adapted to bear down on base portion 11 through washer 20, whereby to adjustably mount said combination rail brace and wedge 7 to the metal tie plate 3, thereby to secure said guard rail 2 to the metal tie plate 3. Head- 16 of threaded bolt 15 is preferably square and of dimension suflicient to prevent turning in slotted recess 13 when nut 19 is turned on bolt 15.

It will be noted that metal tie plate 3 is formed with inclined wedging face 21 adapted to engage wedging face 22 formed on base portion 11 of the combination rail brace and wedge 7. Wedging faces 21 and 22 are disposed at an angle to guard rail 2, and this angle is substantially the same as the angle between said guard rail 2 and holding member 12, as clearly indicated in FIG- URE 1.

Rail engaging portion 10 of the combination rail brace and wedge 7 is preferably formed as shown in FIGURE 2, engaging the guard rail 2 at two vertically spaced points, whereby to allow some clearance for branding or lettering in relief on the web of the guard rail 2.

In applying the adjustable rail brace 6 of FIGURES 1-5 to the guard rail 2, after the latter has been placed in position with the chock 5 between the said guard rail 2 and running rail 1, the combination rail brace and wedge 7 is placed over holding member 12, with rail engaging portion 10 below the head of guard rail 2, and the head 16 of bolt 15 is placed at the entrance to the slotted recess 13. The combination rail brace and wedge 7 may then be advanced by hand in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGURE 1, the engagement of indentation 14 with holding member 12, as well as the presence of head 16 in slotted recess 13, guiding the advance of said combination rail brace and wedge 7. When wedging faces 21 and 22 engage, and rail engaging portion 10 contacts the guard rail 2, the layout of the apparatus being designed so that the engagement of wedging faces 21 and 22, and the contacting of rail engaging portion 10 with guard rail 2, preferably occur substantially simultaneously, the combination rail brace and wedge 7 is struck home, as on striking face 23, by means of a hammer, suitable clearance between bolt 15 and the sides of the slotted recess 13 of holding members 12 being provided. Nut 19 may then be tightened. It will be noted that base portion 11 engages the flange of guard rail 2, thereby securing the same to tie plate 3 against upward vertical movement.

When it is desired to remove the guard rail 2, nut 19 is loosened, and combination rail brace and wedge 7 is tapped and advanced in the opposite direction until bolt 15 clears slotted recess 13; then, combination rail brace and wedge 7 can be removed from the tie plate 3. The guard rail 2 is then removed in a generally vertical direction, being shifted of course slightly to one side to clear chock 5. This can be done without twisting the guard rail 2, which makes the adjustable rail brace 6 particularly useful on curves.

Wedging face 21 may of course be provided by a separate block welded to metal tie plate 3 at the proper angle.

In that modification of the invention shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7, base portion 11 of combination rail brace and wedge 7 is provided with sawtoothed or serrated edge 24 adapted to mate with horizontal sawteeth or serrations on block 25 secured to metal tie plate 3, the said edge 24 and block 25 being arranged at an angle to guard rail 2 as shown in FIGURE 6. Rail engaging portion 10 of combination rail brace and wedge 7 is formed as shown in FIGURE 7, somewhat more clearance between the same and guard rail 2 being preferred over the disclosure of FIGURE 2; and may if desired be indented as at 26 to provide a clearance for conduits or cables (not shown). Of course, a sufiicient area of engagement between base portion 11 and the flange of guard rail 2 is provided to secure guard rail 2 to metal tie 3 against upward vertical movement, as shown in FIGURE 7. It may be desired to use one bolt 15, or two bolts 15 as shown in FIGURE 6, and the same two bolts 15 may be substituted for the single bolt 15 in all other modifications of this invention herein disclosed.

In applying the adjustable rail brace 6 of FIGURES 6 and 7 to the guard rail 2, after the latter has been placed in position With the chock between the said guard rail 2 and running rail 1, the combination rail brace and wedge 7 is placed over holding member--12, and is tilted so that rail engaging portion rides under the head of guard rail 2, and serrated edge 24 rides above block 25, nuts 19 being loosened sufliciently to permit the heads 16 of bolts to ride in slotted recess 13. In this position, combination rail brace and wedge 7 is advanced to seated position (rail engaging portion 10 firmly bearing against guard rail 2) and is then levelled so that the horizontal sawteeth on edge 24 are locked in the horizontal sawteeth of block 25. Nuts 19 are then tightened. The combination rail brace and wedge 7 may be removed by the reverse procedure.

If the horizontal sawteeth on edge 24 and block 25 are fine enough, it is possible to strike home the combination rail brace and wedge 7 by means of a hammer as with the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5, the fine horizontal sawteeth or serrations producing a ratcheting effect.

In that modification of the invention shown in FIG- URES 8-10, base portion 11 of combination rail brace and wedge 7 is provided in the upper portion of indentation 14 with vertical sawteeth or serrations 26 which match vertical sawteeth or serrations 27 formed on the upper portion of holding member 12. Rail engaging portion 10 of combination rail brace and wedge 7 is similar in profile to that disclosed in FIGURE 7, somewhat more clearance between the same and guard rail 2 being preferred over the disclosure of FIGURE 2.

In applying the adjustable rail brace 6 of FIGURES 8-10 to the guard rail 2, after the latter has been placed in position with the chock 5 between the said guard rail 2 and running rail 1, the combination rail brace and wedge 7 is placed over holding member 12, with rail engaging portion 10 under the head of guard rail 2, and with the vertical sawteeth 26 of base portion 11 clear of the vertical sawteeth 27 on holding member 12, nut 19 being loosened sufficiently to permit the head 16 of bolt 15 to ride in slotted recess 13. Wedging face 22 of base portion 11 may partially engage wedging face 21 of metal tie plate 3 (e.g., the lower portion of the wedging face 22 may engage the upper portion of the wedging face 21) being assisted, if required, by a slight tilting of said combination rail brace and wedge 7. In this position, combination rail brace and wedge 7 is advanced to seated position (rail engaging portion 10 firmly bearing against guard rail 2, and wedging face 22 firmly bearing against wedging face 21). Nut 19 is then tightened, drawing the vertical sawteeth 26 of base portion 11 into locking engagement with the vertical sawteeth 27 on holding member 12. The combination rail brace and wedge 7 may; be removed by the reverse procedure.

If the vertical sawteeth 26 and 27 are fine enough, it is possible to.strike home the combination rail brace and wedge 7 by means of a hammer as with the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5, the fine vertical sawteeth 26 and 27 producing a ratcheting effect.

While the present invention has been shown in the several figures as applied to a guard rail, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to running rails at switch points, as well as to running rails of all types, whether straight or curved.

Although the invention has been described herein in considerable detail, it is not to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof as shown and described, but may include such modifications, substitutions or equivalents thereof as are embraced within the scope of the invention or as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for bracing and securing a rail to a tie plate, comprising:

(a) a brace member having a first end and a second end,

(b) said first end being adapted to engage said rail,

(c) a vertical face on said second end, said vertical face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail,

((1) a vertical wedging face on said tie plate, said vertical wedging face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail and adapted to engage the vertical face of said brace member,

(e) guide means on said tie plate extending upwardly therefrom and formed with a slotted recess, said guide means being adapted to guide said brace mem her along a straight path into operative position be tween said rail and said vertical wedging face or selectively out of operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face,

(f) means on said brace member adapted to extend into said slotted recess and to be reciprocated therein, said means being further adapted to secure said brace member to said tie plate, the lower extremity of said means being above said tie plate,

(g) whereby said brace member may be advanced toward said rail and wedged between said rail and said vertical wedging face to brace and secure said rail to said tie plate or selectively said brace member may be withdrawn away from said rail.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including:

(h) first and second mutually engaging horizontal serrations along said vertical wedging face and along said vertical face of said second end of said brace member, respectively.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including:

(h) first and second mutually engaging vertical serrations along the upper portion of said guide means and along the lower portion of said brace member, respectively.

4. Apparatus for bracing and securing a rail to a tie plate, comprising:

(a) a brace member having a first end and a second end,

(b) said first end being adapted to engage said rail,

(c) a vertical face on said second end, said vertical face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail,

(d) a vertical wedging face on said tie plate, said vertical wedging face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail and adapted to engage the vertical face of said brace member,

(e) guide means on said tie plate extending upwardly therefrom and formed with a slotted recess extending substantially parallel to said vertical wedging face, said guide means being adapted to guide said brace member along a strainght path into operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face or selectively out of operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face,

(f) bolt means extending through said brace member and into said slotted recess and adapted to be guidably reciprocated therein, said bolt means being further adapted to secure said brace member to said tie plate, the lower extremity of said bolt means being above said tie plate,

(g) whereby said brace member may be guidably advanced obliquely toward said rail and wedged between said rail and said vertical wedging face to brace and secure said rail to said tie plate or selectively said brace member may be withdrawn away from said rail.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including:

(h) first and second mutually engaging horizontal serrations along said vertical wedging face and along said vertical face of said second end of said brace member, respectively.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including:

(h) first and second mutually engaging vertical serrations along the upper portion of said guide means and along the lower portion of said brace member, respectively.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including:

(h) an elongated indentation in said brace member adapted to receive said guide means,

(i) said guide means and said elongated indentation extending substantially parallel to said vertical wedging face.

8. Apparatus for bracing and securing a rail, comprising:

(a) a tie plate to support said rail,

(b) a brace member having a first end and a second end,

(c) said first end being adapted to engage said rail,

((1) a vertical face on said second end, said vertical face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail,

(e) a vertical wedging face on said tie plate, said vertical wedging face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said rail and adapted to engage the vertical face of said brace member,

(f) guide means on said tie plate extending upwardly therefrom and formed with a slotted recess extending substantially parallel to said vertical wedging face, said guide means being adapted to guide said brace member along a straight path into operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face or selectively out of operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face,

(g) bolt means extending through said brace member and into said slotted recess and adapted to be guidably reciprocated therein, said bolt means being further adapted to secure said brace member to said tie plate, the lower extremity of said bolt means being above said tie plate,

(h) whereby said brace member may be guidably advanced obliquely toward said rail and wedged between said rail and said vertical wedging face to brace and secure said rail to said tie plate or selectively said brace member may be withdrawn away from said rail.

9. Apparatus comprising:

(a) a running rail,

(b) a guard rail horizontally spaced from said running rail and extending substantially parallel thereto, (0) a spacing chock interposed between said running rail and said guard rail,

(d) a tie plate to support said running rail and said guard rail beneath said spacing chock,

(e) a brace member having a first end and a second end,

(f) said first end being adapted to engage said guard rail opposite said spacing chock,

(g) a vertical face on said second end, said vertical face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said guard rail,

(h) a vertical wedging face on said tie plate, said vertical wedging face being inclined in a horizontal plane at an acuate angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said guard rail and adapted to engage the vertical face of said brace member,

(i) guide means on said tie plate extending upwardly therefrom and formed with a slotted recess extending substantially parallel to said vertical wedging face, said guide means being adapted to guide said brace member along a straight path into operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face or selectively out of operative position between said rail and said vertical wedging face,

(j) bolt means extending through said brace member and into said slotted recess and adapted to be guidably reciprocated therein, said bolt means being further adapted to secure said brace member to said tie plate, the lower extremity of said bolt means being above said tie plate,

(k) whereby said brace member may be guidably advanced obliquely toward said guard rail and wedged between said guard rail and said vertical wedging face to brace and secure said guard rail to said tie plate or selectively said brace member may be withdrawn away from said guard rail.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,663 12/ 1924 Zimmerman 238-21 2,419,701 4/1947 Asselin 23 8-292 2,732,134 1/1956 Taylor 238-292 2,944,740 7/ 1960 Burkhardt 238292 EUGENE G. BOTZ, Primary Examiner.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR BRACING AND SECURING A RAIL TO A TIE PLATE, COMPRISING: (A) A BRACE MEMBER HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END, (B) SAID FIRST END BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID RAIL, (C) A VERTICAL FACE ON SAID SECOND END, SAID VERTICAL FACE BEING INCLINED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID RAIL, (D) A VERTICAL WEDGING FACE ON SAID TIE PLATE, SAID VERTITICAL WEDGING FACE BEING INCLINED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID RAIL AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE VERTICAL FACE OF SAID BRACE MEMBER, (E) GUIDE MEANS ON SAID TIE PLATE EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND FORMED WITH A SLOTTED RECESS, SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO GUIDE SAID BRACE MEMBER ALONG A STRAIGHT PATH INTO OPERATIVE POSITION BETWEEN SAID RAIL AND SAID VERTICAL WEDGING FACE OR SELECTIVELY OUT OF OPERATIVE POSITION BETWEEN SAID RAIL AND SAID VERTICAL WEDGING FACE, (F) MEANS ON SAID BRACE MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO SAID SLOTTED RECESS AND TO BE RECIPROCATED THEREIN, SAID MEANS BEING FURTHER ADAPTED TO SECURE SAID BRACE MEMBER TO SAID TIE PLATE, THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID MEANS BEING ABOVE SAID TIE PLATE, (G) WHEREBY SAID BRACE MEMBER MAY BE ADVANCED TOWARD SAID RAIL AND WEDGED BETWEEN SAID RAIL AND SAID VERTICAL WEDGING FACE TO BRACE AND SECURE SAID RAIL TO SAID TIE PLATE OR SELECTIVELY SAID BRACE MEMBER MAY BE WITHDRAWN AWAY FROM SAID RAIL. 